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Tooting Bec Golf Club at Furzedown and South Lodge, Mitcham Common.

The Tooting Bec Golf Club was Instituted on November 10th 1888 and initially played their golf on Tooting Common.

The following is an extract from the 1888-89 Golfing Annual. "At first, a short tentative course of nine-holes was laid out. It had the drawback, however, of leaving unutilised a large portion of the common, and the admirable hazards afforded by the bushes. The committee invited Tom Dunn, of North Berwick to come south and advise them in the laying out of an 18-hole course. Dunn spent two days surveying the common towards the end of December, the outcome of his labours being the formation of a pretty, strategical course of 18-holes, on which players do not cross another party, and in which bushes, water and ditches are utilised with splendid effect. Dunn himself proffered the opinion that he had not laid out, in the course of his career, a better inland course for the sport, and that in many respects it was superior to Wimbledon.

Starting from the tee in front of the clubhouse, behind the common keeper's lodge at the end of the avenue the first hole out is at the Tooting end of the common, right under the shadow of the school house known as "Newlands," a building which gives its name to the hole. The player has to carry a goodly stretch of bushes with his tee shot; the rest of the course is rather heavy going, and is often productive of a high figure on the scoring card of even a scratch player.

David Anderson jun., of St Andrew's, is the resident professional. The clubhouse is a comfortable little structure abutting on the common."

The report below is from the Sporting Gazette dated Saturday January 12th 1889 and describes the opening match played on the Tooting Bec course.

Unfortunately the score for the secretary's team has disappeared off the edge of the page.

In April 1889 there was a report of golf on Tooting Common. Mr Broadhurst M.P was involved in a match for a handsome and valuable prize, “the game was being played by the Tooting Common Club”. This favourite Scottish game had “caught on” in England, and it seemed that wherever the ground could be made available courses were laid out and matches were being played.

In the early 1890s the local council put forward plans to ban golf on Tooting Common and the Tooting Bec club were seeking a new home.

In 1892 part of the Seely Estate at Furzedown, which adjoined Tooting Junction railway station, became available. The Furzedown course was designed by Tom Dunn who had recently moved south from North Berwick. Tooting Bec was a club with great tradition and was frequented by many well known celebrities. The Seelys were very well connected themselves, both Charles and his son Sir Charles were M.Ps and their playing partners and guests would have included the rich and famous, Arthur Balfour the prime minister played there.

The Seely estate was sold at the beginning of the twentieth century so, once again, a new home was being sought. In 1906 the club moved to South Lodge, Mitcham Common, where an 18-hole course was laid out.

In 1927 the club changed its name to South Lodge Golf Club. The club and course had disappeared by the mid 1930s with the land eventually being used for housing.

The Tooting Bec Medal is still awarded to the PGA member born in, or with parents born in the UK or the Republic of Ireland who records the lowest single round score in The Open.

The reverse of the Tooting Bec Medal is inscribed with the winner his score the year and the course.

Tooting Bec Golf Club Competition Medal.

From a report attributed to the Leeds Mercury 7th January 1892. “If anyone had said a few months ago that it was possible to establish a private golf course within five miles of Charing Cross, he would have been regarded as prophesying an impossibility. There is, however, good reason to anticipate that the existence of such a course will in a few months be accomplished fact. Beyond Tooting Common there is a fine property known as the Furzedown Estate. It extends to between 80 and 100 acres, and it has not yet come within the range of the London builder. In a few years it will be infallibly covered with villas and streets, but for the present the owner thinks he cannot do better than lease it out as a golf course. The ground will be taken over by the existing Tooting Bec Club, which already numbers between 400 and 500 members. There are two ponds in the ground, and little rivulet meanders through it. There will, therefore, be sufficient hazards, and Mr Tom Dunn, the professional of the Tooting Bec club, is satisfied that a very fine course can be laid. Mr Balfour, Mr Marjorie Banks , Mr Finlay, The Marquis of Granby, Lord Walter Gordon Lennox, Mr Walter James, and several other Members of Parliament, are members of the club.

Tooting Bec Golf Club button.

The following interesting reports are from the Inverness Courier dated May 1892. The first report describes the opening of the course and also gives an insight into the growing problems with golf on common land. “The private course of the Tooting Bec Golf Club was opened on Saturday 21st May 1892. Lord Granby, the captain, drove the first ball. His lordship made a successful drive, for which he was cheered. The club have got into their own ground just in time, as the County Council has within the last few days prohibited play on the public common. It has been fully understood that that the game would be subjected there to gradually increased restrictions, but entire prohibition was not anticipated, and it is said to be due to complaint of a ball having been driven into a perambulator. Mr A J Balfour played over the new ground on Saturday afternoon. He was in a foursome, his partner being Mr Guy Pym, and one of his opponents being Tom Dunn, the professional. A couple of photographers had been admitted to the ground, and the leader of the House of Commons was too good a subject to be missed. He submitted to them with good grace, posing before the cameras on a teeing ground”

The second report is entitled; Mr Balfour on Golf and Open Spaces – A writer in the new radical paper, the Morning Advertiser, had a conversation with Mr Balfour at Tooting on Saturday. Said the journalist, “There is no doubt you have helped greatly to spread golf in England during the last few years. Clubs are springing up everywhere. Do you think the game has come to stay?” Mr Balfour replied “I think so. It is an old game in Scotland, and I do not believe that golfing will be an ephemeral thing – like lawn tennis perhaps” he went on “I hope the County Council is not going to set its face against golf. I see it has happened at Tooting Bec, which of course, is a great loss to golfers”

In October 1892 the picture of the Parliamentary golf tournament had been completed. In the foreground was Arthur Balfour, although he did not play in the tournament. By his side preparing to hole a long put was the Marquis of Granby, captain of the Tooting Bec club, on whose ground the competition took place. Also in the picture are, Mr John Penn, well known Blackheath player, Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Sir Herbert Maxwell, Mr Shaw-Stewart and Mr Donald Crawford.

The following, very interesting, hole by hole description of the Furzedown course is taken from the 1893 Golfing Annual:-

Starting from the tee in front of the clubhouse, behind the common keeper’s lodge at the end of the avenue, the first hole out is at the Tooting end of the common, right under the shadow of the school known as “Newlands”, a building which gives its name to the hole. The player has to carry a goodly stretch of bushes with his tee shot; the rest of the course is rather heavy going, and is often productive of a high figure on the scoring card of even a scratch player; the next hole skirts the roadway between Streatham and Tooting, and is known as “Rushmere”. It is only a cleek shot, but a belt of whins in front of the tee, a deep depression full of water, the roadway near at hand on the right, and the green surrounded by bushes, are difficulties which will set the nerves jingling; the next hole cuts across towards the avenue, and is named “Perfection”, after its prototype at North Berwick, and in honour of the discoverer. After clearing the bushes in front of the tee the ball lies in clear territory, but the green is entrenched behind a deep ditch containing water. The fourth hole is of very nearly the same character; the fifth is a modification of the “Race Course” hole at Wimbledon, with the end of a pond thrown in, to set the teeth of the player on edge before he reaches the green; the sixth hole called the “Thrale” is another “Race Course” hole, with a ditch in front and an amplitude of bushes to the right and left to entrap the eratic driver; “The Oaks” hole is more clear of bushes until the green is reached; “The Railway” hole is a wrist shot with the iron over a clump of bushes, the railway metals lying a dozen club lengths the hither side of the hole to engulf the strong shot; “The Briars” has to be played zig-zag direction from the tee, the green being encircled with bushes more tenacious than a thousand sand bunkers; the “Hole Across” is an easy drive with clear lie on the course and green; “Woodlands” lies between a belt of water and bushes; the “Road” hole is one of those to which the timid take an iron and the fearless the driver, both shots coming, nine out of ten times, to an unhallowed end; the “Gate” hole is a cleek shot over furze and a deep narrow ditch; “The Signal”, “The Angle” and “The Priory” holes are so heavy and so replete with bad lies that the niblick alone is the sheet anchor of the muscular Christian who wishes to score; “The Ditch” is easily reached with a drive from the tee, after clearing a ditch and furze; the “Home” hole is furze all the way from tee to green, and can only be cleared with a strong clean shot, otherwise doom overwhelms the stroke maladroit.

David Anderson, jun, of St Andrews is the resident professional. The clubhouse is a comfortable little structure abutting on the common.

What a great course review, do you think that they may have been trying to deter visitors?

In February 1893 it was reported that the Parliamentary Handicap which created so much interest in 1892 was to be repeated in spring 1893. Instead of being played over Tooting Common, the competition will now take place over the new private course at Furzedown, owned by the Tooting Bec club.

On Monday March 13th 1893 Mr De Zoete set a new course record for the Furzedown course, score as follows; Out – 5,5,6,4,4,5,4,5,4 = 42; Home – 4,4,4,3,4,4,4,4,4 = 35 - total, 77. Curiously, for some unexplained reason, the only hole not holed out was the fifth where he was on the green in one. He was accompanied by the club secretary, Mr J Duthrie Matthew, who recorded the score.

Following are a selection of results for the club from the 1893.

At Furzedown in April 1893 in the third round of the Parliamentary Handicap A J Robertson (6) beat H W Forster MP (2) 1 up.

On Saturday 1st July 1893 two competitions took place over the Furzedown course. There were about 100 entrants in the club monthly medal, result; John Wood, 95-16-79; G Collyer, 97-16-81; A Denman, 87-2-85. On the same day a second round match of the Parliamentary Foursome took place; J P Croal (6) and A J Robertson (6) tied with J Moore (18) and A Mackintosh (22).

Result of the Bristowe Challenge Cup which was competed for on the first days play of the Autumn Meeting on Friday 13th October 1893; J T Stein, 94-16-78; H Tollemache M.P, 89-10-79; R Stewart Bain, 98-18-30. A large field started, 40 cards were returned.

At the Autumn Meeting the Guy Pym Challenge Cup was played for on Saturday 14th October 1893. The winner was Mr Read Douglas Morrison with a score of 96-18-76, Mr Williams was runner-up, 90-11-79 and in third place J G Maclean, 88-8-80. The Ellis scratch medal was won by T R Pinkerton.

Following is the result of the November 1893 medal; Norman Dawson, 98-15-83; A J Robertson, 93-5-88. About 70 members entered.

The clubs half yearly handicap competition for prizes given by the club’s president, the Marquis of Granby, concluded in December 1893. The winner was N C Bailey (18), a well-known Old Westminster footballer, who beat Mr A Hood (12) in the final by 1up, Mr Bailey would hold the trophy for six months. About 60 players took part including; Mr T R Pinkerton who had a +3 handicap; Mr C E Walker (16); Mr R L DeZoete, scratch.

On Tuesday 10th April 1894 the following second round tie was played in the Parliamentary Tournament; Mr G W Balfour MP beat H Tollemache by 4 and 3; in the first round Captain McCalmont MP scratched to A J Robertson of the Press Gallery; H Mackenzie, Clerk, House of Lords scratched to C W Campion, Examiner, House of Commons.

On Monday 23rd May 1894 in the Parliamentary Tournament at Furzedown Mr Balfour beat Mr C Hamilton, clerk to the House of Lords, by 9 and 7

After three months of play the final of the trophy presented by Lord Granby was completed in January 1895. Mr T R Pinkerton fought his way through and won his last two matches with ease. In the final he beat Mr Kingdom 6 and 5, in the semi-final he had beaten Mr Jeans by 7 and 5, Major Ruck was the other defeated semi-finalist he lost to Mr Kingdom by one hole. The competition was played in the autumn/winter season when the Furzedown course could be very wet, particularly if the River Graveney decided to steal over its banks and inundate the course.

Played on Saturday 4th May 1895 the Parliamentary Handicap results; W Austin Leigh beat Sir W Ledderburn, 1up; J Cumming Macdona beat A A Brodribb, 6 & 4; Herbert Gladstone beat J Penn, 1up. On the same day the Tooting Bec club played for the Guy Pym Cup, the winner was D M Mason, 100-16-84, the runner-up, T Mackay with 85 scratch.

In July 1895 the Guy Pym Cup was won by D G Langley with a score of 80net.

Result of the Gold Medal handicap competition open to this year’s monthly medal winners was played on Saturday December 10th 1898 and resulted in a tie; A J Robertson 89 scratch, C E Walker 93-4-89 and L S Fitter 97-8-89. Result of the December medal; C E Walker, 88-4-84 (won the play-off); Dr R Worth, 96-12-84; H Fownes Turner, 95-10-85. On December 17th 1898 the monthly bogey was played and resulted in a four way tie; H T Roberts (1), R Alston (7), Colonel C H Coles (12) and H Margetson (14) all finished 4down.

Result of the monthly bogey for January 1899, there were about 30 entrants; Harold Margetson (9) 5down; Harold W Beveridge, (4) 6down. Charles E Walker won the gold medal competition, open to 1898 medal winners with a score of 91-4-87; runner-up L S Fitter, 111-8-103. Over 80 players competed for the January medal , result; H W Beveridge, 86-7-79; G H Gill, 95-13-82;

In May 1899 ties in the third round of the Parliamentary Competition played at Furzedown; A J Robertson, Press Gallery (3) beat A Lyttleton MP (7) 1up; John Wilson MP, Falkirk beat H T Anstruther MP, St Andrews, 3 and 2.

In June 1899 Joseph Tapley, a well known opera singer, won the 36 hole Tooting Bec Club’s Victoria Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup with a score of 162 net.

Following is the result of the bogey competition held in January 1900; H W Beveridge (1) 2up; Allan George (2) 1up; V F Maude (6) 1down.

Mr A J Robertson, scratch, (Press Galley) winner of the previous year’s Parliamentary Handicap, met Mr Felix Skene, handicap 6, (House of Lords) in the third round at Furzedown on Thursday 31st May 1900. Mr Robertson won the match by 4 and 3.

From the Tatler December 1900 – The seventeenth hole , Tooting Bec. One of the oldest Metropolitan courses soon to be abandoned.

By 1900 the Prince’s, Mitcham Golf Club, were also holding matches in the Parliamentary Handicap Competition.

It was reported in April 1905 that the tenure on their present course would expire in March 1906. The club had already entered into discussions on freehold land situated between Norbury and Mitcham Common. The committee had already sorted out the “ways and means” of the deal and it was anticipated that the conveyance would be completed without problem. The land extended to about 100 acres near Pollard’s Hill. The eminent J H Taylor, along with expert land surveyors and club members, had carried out an initial inspection of the land and had given a favourable report. The purchase price was £20,000. This included the cost of the laying out of the course, and converting a fine old house, South Lodge, into a clubhouse. A mortgage had already been arranged on one half of the cost, the other half would be well covered by members of the club. Possession would be obtained as soon as the purchase was completed. Willie Park carried out a further inspection of the land and would advise on the layout of the course.

The following is an extract from an unknown and undated article (c1906.) "The new freehold course of the Tooting Bec Golf Club at South Lodge, was opened on Saturday by the resumption of the monthly medal competition. After having occupied the Furzedown Estate for fourteen years, and spending £3,000 to £4,000 on the links, the club had to leave their old course with a feeling of lively regret in order to make way for the builder. Today their old links are in ruins. The fine old trees have been cut down and uprooted, roads have been cut through their bunkers, their fine putting greens have been stripped of the turf, and the tees dug into gravel pits. A street of small houses called Links Road, has been cut straight down the third hole. The course at South Lodge has a finer quality of soil and turf, is more diversified, and a good deal longer. Taylor took great pains to advise the committee as to the suitableness of the ground before it was taken by the club. Willie Park laid out the course. The fifth hole is on top of a small hill called Pollard's Hill, and from the putting green a wide and extensive view over the fairest portion of pastoral Surrey can be had. There are now 380 members."

In 1909/10 the secretary was J Wilford Taylor, and the professional A Fosbury. Bogey score for the course was 81.

In 1914 the secretary was now available at South Lodge, East Side, Mitcham Common. The professional was A Fosbury. It was an 18-hole course with holes varying from 150 to 500yards with a total length of 6,000yds. Hazards were trees, ditches and ponds. The clubhouse was a charming old building with some 2 ½ acres of lawns and gardens. There was a membership 400. Entry fees were £5/5/0 and subs £5/5/0. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/6 a day and 10/- a week. Sunday play was allowed with caddies. The railway stations at Mitcham Junction, Tooting Junction and Boddington Lane were all one mile away.

In c1921 Dr Alister Mackenzie was called on to make extensive changes to the course.

The following article appeared in Golf Illustrated on the 17th November 1922. "Visitors to the Tooting Bec Club's course at Mitcham Common are agreeably surprised to find it playing so well. Since Mr Mackenzie, the famous golf course architect, was called in by the club to advise and reconstruct some eighteen months ago, many improvements are manifest, despite the serious drawbacks occasioned by last year's drought. The pot-bunkering system round the greens could hardly be improved upon, while the fairways, thanks to an elaborate scheme of mole draining, are clean and dry and "well clothed" with grass of close-knit texture. The club's prosperity owes much to the enthusiasm of Mr D J Rice, the captain, and Mr F Pike, the secretary."

From 1923 to 1927 the secretary was F R (or R F) Pike at Tooting Bec, South Lodge, Watneys Road, Mitcham Common, Surrey, telephone 1510. The professional was M Daragon. Visitors’ fees on introduction were 2/6 a day, weekend and Bank Holiday 5/- a day. Ladies played during restricted hours at weekend. Stations were as before but now with an additional tramway service from Croydon or Westminster Bridge.

On Thursday 24th April 1930 the Croydon Alliance Championship was played at South Lodge. George Gadd (Roehampton), besides winning, twice broke the course record. In the first round he had a 70, which improved the professional record by two strokes, and in the afternoon he scored 68.

In May 1930 M Daragon, the South Lodge professional, qualified for the final stages of the “Yorkshire Evening News” Thousand Guineas Tournament, played at Headingley, with two rounds of 75.

It was reported In November 1931 that the South Lodge, Mitcham, golf course had closed, and during the next few months a house building scheme would obliterate all signs of golf there.

The South Lodge golf course was still appearing on OS maps in the mid 1930s but the club and course had long gone.